E46 w/ Performance Package advice for Winter

[sommera]

Looking for a little input. I went through the Tirerack site and am comfortable that I should get 17" Winters for my car. I am in Long Island where the streets are plowed pretty well, just a thin layer on sides streets where I live. I'd like the car to handle well so I am thinking about either the Blizzack LM-25s or the Dunlap Winter Sport 3Ds (which were recommended). There is no rating page for the 3Ds and no reviews from RWD owner, on the other had I read a lot about the Blizzacks being too squishy and wearing quickly in dry, which it will be most of the time.

My question is whether the Dunlaps would do better in those two areas without giving up much in snow performance. I used to use All-seasons on my E36 and found the handling a bit more exciting than I would like in the snow.

I would appreciate advice, especially from Gary.

[Wosby]

Looking for a little input. I went through the Tirerack site and am comfortable that I should get 17" Winters for my car. I am in Long Island where the streets are plowed pretty well, just a thin layer on sides streets where I live. I'd like the car to handle well so I am thinking about either the Blizzack LM-25s or the Dunlap Winter Sport 3Ds (which were recommended). There is no rating page for the 3Ds and no reviews from RWD owner, on the other had I read a lot about the Blizzacks being too squishy and wearing quickly in dry, which it will be most of the time.

My question is whether the Dunlaps would do better in those two areas without giving up much in snow performance. I used to use All-seasons on my E36 and found the handling a bit more exciting than I would like in the snow.

I would appreciate advice, especially from Gary.

Hey Sommera,

I currently drive an E46 330i w/Sport Package (RWD), and in the winter I use a dedicated set of Blizzak WS-50 on 17 inch wheels along with four 50lb bags of sand ($2 each at Home Depot) in the trunk and have no problems driving in snow. The only way the snow depth affects me is if it's higher than my front valance. Yes Blizzacks are squishy, so you cant drive as aggresively, but why would you want to in inclement weather anyway. Besides if you have a dedecated set of snow tires, you can simply swap back your summer tires when there's no snow on the ground. Although the compound in most summer tires is very hard below 40 degrees and dont grip as well. I'm not a big fan of all season tires. They dont perform as well as summer tires, nor as well as snow tires.

Hope that helps.

Wosby

[sommera]

I guess it is just a matter of location. Where I live there is rarely snow on the ground -- so it will be dry most of the time anyway. Even if it snows, it is quickly cleaned up, except for those few, big storms.

Leaning towards the Blizzacks, though.

[kyfdx]

Looking for a little input. I went through the Tirerack site and am comfortable that I should get 17" Winters for my car. I am in Long Island where the streets are plowed pretty well, just a thin layer on sides streets where I live. I'd like the car to handle well so I am thinking about either the Blizzack LM-25s or the Dunlap Winter Sport 3Ds (which were recommended). There is no rating page for the 3Ds and no reviews from RWD owner, on the other had I read a lot about the Blizzacks being too squishy and wearing quickly in dry, which it will be most of the time.

My question is whether the Dunlaps would do better in those two areas without giving up much in snow performance. I used to use All-seasons on my E36 and found the handling a bit more exciting than I would like in the snow.

I would appreciate advice, especially from Gary.


I have the Dunlop M3 on a convertible... The handling isn't much different than the all-seasons that came on it.. Of course, they won't handle anything like your summer tires, but for winter rubber they are fine.

I had good luck with Goodyear Eagle Ultra-Grip also.... but, they are harder to find..